The column below reflects the views of the author, and these opinions are neither endorsed nor supported by WisOpinion.com.
Owning a small business can be stressful and unpredictable, but it’s also an enormous privilege that grants financial freedom. I’m building something for my future and hopefully for future generations – all while driving economic growth in my community.
Small businesses like mine are the foundation of our economy. America’s over 33 million small businesses employ over 60 million workers – nearly half of the private-sector workforce – and create almost two-thirds of all new jobs.
For many small business owners, online marketplaces have made entrepreneurial dreams a reality. E-commerce radically expands the idea of what’s achievable for small sellers – especially for those without access to storefronts, capital, or large-scale infrastructure. With just a few clicks, I was able to launch my business, connect with customers nationwide, and build out logistics that normally require entire departments and significant resources.
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As we celebrate National Small Business Month, something feels different this year. For many of us, the sense of possibility that once defined entrepreneurship is now shadowed by uncertainty. The challenges we face today are growing stronger, and we are left especially confused by recent decisions in Washington.
Instead of excitement and growth, there’s anxiety in the air. Costs for supplies, shipping, and rent are climbing. Regulatory compliance – especially for small online sellers – is increasingly complex and inconsistent across states. And trade policy changes like new tariffs inject instability into our pricing and planning. It all adds up to an environment that’s difficult for small businesses to navigate.
The economic uncertainty brought on by tariffs alone, for example, forces small businesses to reconsider supply chains, reevaluate our prices, and cloud our long-term planning. Take the tariffs on China for example. Higher importing fees on Chinese goods forces small businesses to raise prices on consumers, cut other operating costs, or stop selling the product entirely, in response to increased costs. Small businesses everywhere are grappling with these less-than-ideal decisions as a result of a tariff slapped on products they source from a foreign nation.
Running a small business is a challenge, and what’s frustrating is that much of the harm that’s been unleashed into the economy has been self-inflicted. As a small business owner, I’m asking policymakers to take time this month to listen to their small business constituents about how they can create certainty and help us grow our businesses.
A looming debate over tax policy provides a good example. Several key provisions that support small business investment and hiring are set to expire, and if Congress fails to act, it could result in higher taxes and reduced incentives at the exact moment when small businesses need support the most. Lawmakers should act swiftly to ensure small businesses remain positioned to grow, hire, and compete.
President Calvin Coolidge once said, “The business of America is business.” But today, more than ever, the business of America is small businesses. We are the builders, job creators, problem-solvers, and innovators that keep our country going. This National Small Business Month, let’s do more than celebrate entrepreneurs. Let’s commit to creating an environment where they can actually succeed.
– Michael Jadin is a local business owner in the Milwaukee area.
